OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like South Bend, IN 46628

South Bend: median income $61,759, home value $182,200, $133/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ashland, OH 44805 96%215$68,299$174,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Creek, MI 49015 95%69$68,821$184,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Davenport, IA 52804 95%223$65,849$156,800$143 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 94%218$64,108$220,300$168 pricier homes ($38K more)
Tiffin, OH 44883 94%166$62,692$163,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Sturgis, MI 49091 94%45$67,333$182,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsdale, MI 49242 94%88$61,029$183,700$147 smaller
El Dorado, KS 67042 94%621$62,857$141,300$119 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Newton, KS 67114 94%637$70,018$166,300$103 Very close on everything we compare
El Reno, OK 73036 94%759$59,915$172,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Mcalester, OK 74501 94%694$57,922$164,000$122 newer homes
Fremont, OH 43420 93%166$61,331$152,900$137 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Mansfield, OH 44903 93%206$67,215$180,600$162 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, MN 55912 93%366$70,177$170,200$137 Very close on everything we compare
Carthage, MO 64836 93%530$61,335$164,400$141 newer homes
Mexico, MO 65265 93%342$56,969$152,600$138 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Sedalia, MO 65301 93%421$58,064$164,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66605 93%526$59,106$170,500$126 more walkable
Lawton, OK 73507 93%818$62,132$158,800$111 Very close on everything we compare
Temple, TX 76501 93%955$62,532$172,500$138 smaller
Warren, OH 44484 92%288$63,630$175,900$133 older residents
Marietta, OH 45750 92%298$60,229$185,900$133 older residents
Westland, MI 48186 92%156$65,187$174,000$157 6 min longer commute
Battle Creek, MI 49014 92%73$69,009$181,100$166 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49203 92%103$56,201$159,100$133 Very close on everything we compare

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.